Mrs. Rawlings (left) presenting the plaque to Mr. Dzani
The government is currently developing a national entrepreneurship innovation plan, which focuses on accelerating and improving the quality of entrepreneurship in the country, Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, Minister of Business Development, has disclosed.
According to him, the plan would also promote innovation in businesses.
The Minister made this known in a speech read on his behalf at the seventh Ghana Entrepreneur and Corporate Executive Awards, held in Accra.
The event saw Council of State member and President of Group Ideal, Nii Kotei Dzani named Entrepreneur of the Year 2016.
Other winners included Eric Seedy Kutortse, John Addo Kufour, Edmund Akoto-Bamfo, Emmanuel Twum Obeng, Gina Ama Blay, Felicia Twumasi, Dr. Wisdom Ameglebetor, Dr. Kofi Amoa-Abban and Joseph Kofi Biney for successfully exploiting various sectors of the economy.
Young Entrepreneur of the year, MCottley Holding’s President, Richard Dugan together with Abigail Asolange Hartley, Mukesh Thaikwani, David Amankwah Jnr, Seth Yeboah Ocran, Gobind Wadhwani, Emmanuel Anane and Dr. Maxwell Owusu Nkrabeah were all honoured for their entrepreneurship exploits.
The Corporate Executives awarded included MTN Ghana’s Chief, Ebenezer Twum Asante, Joe Mensah of Kosmos Energy Ghana, Emmanuel Adu-Sarkodee of CDH Financial Holdings, Unibank Ghana’s Felix Nyarko-Pong, Databank Groups’ Kojo Addae-Mensah, Joe Tackie of Private Sector Development Ministry,West Blue Consulting Limited’s Valentina Mintah, Gratis Foundation’s Emmanuel Asiedu and Hendrick Du Preez of Emirates Airline.
Others were Freda Duplan of Nestle Ghana, Angela Kyeremanten-Jimoh, Country Manager of IBM Ghana, Nour Seklaoui of Electroland Ghana, Vanguard Assurance’s Dr. Gideon Yao Amenyedor, Broll Ghana’s Kofi Ampong, Omnibank’s Philip Oti-Mensah, Rahman Malhotra of MAC Ghana Auto, Josh Varkey of Nyonkopa Cocoa Buying Ltd, Sunil Wadhwani of Kane-Em Industries and Dangote Cement Ghana’s Tor Nyagard.
The Minister explained that government was convinced that creating such competitive avenues would broaden the base of indigenous companies and entrepreneurs to add value to current existing ones and bolster their efforts in strengthening the economy.
For businesses to take advantage of government’s private sector enhancement programmes, Mr. Awal urged players to institute and practice good corporate governance including putting together a strong management and advisory boards to direct affairs and comply with regulatory measures, established for businesses.
Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Carlos Ahenkorah highlighted government’s plan and policies to make the private sector the engine of economic growth including providing stimulus packages to about 100 identified companies to grow and expand.
He said government was focused on establishing strategic anchor businesses in districts to facilitate job creation and improve livelihoods.
The government, Mr. Ahenkorah noted, was in the process of setting up specific product industrial parks in each region to reduce the cost of production for businesses.
These, among other things, the Deputy Minister said would guide government’s intention to build Ghana’s private sector to ensure economic growth and prosperity.
Mr. Sam Ato Gaisie, Founder, Entrepreneur Foundation, urged young entrepreneurs to view challenges and failures as an avenue to improve and re-strategise to be able to sustain and grow their ventures profitably.
By Claude Nyarko Adams
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